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Monthly Archives: June 2014

The term ‘Smooth Jazz’ was originally coined by radio executives to describe the then new genre that fused blues, jazz, R&B, funk, rock and pop influences. Smooth Jazz tracks are generally down-tempo instrumentals favoring melody and smooth grooves over the sophisticated rhythms, faster tempos and long improvisations typical in jazz.

Musicologists would likely trace the origin of what’s known today as ‘Smooth Jazz’ back to a series of three Wes Montgomery records produced by Creed Taylor in the late 60’s. All three were very commercially successful, which enticed many other accomplished musicians of that era to release records in the format including Freddie Hubbard, Chet Baker, George Benson, Stanley Turrentine, Bob James, David Sanborn, Grover Washington Jr, Herb Alpert, Al Jarreau and Chuck Mangione.

One other extraordinarily talented guitarist of note, Paul Brown started his music career as a producer and engineer. He earned two Grammy Awards and an impressive string 40+ number one hits. Paul has worked on projects with George Benson, Al Jarreau, Patti Austin, Norman Brown, Luther Vandross, Larry Carlton, Boney James, and many, many other top artists and musicians. With such extensive experience as a producer, engineer AND guitar player, who better than Paul to guide you through the Smooth Jazz Handbook?!

Paul organized the Smooth Jazz Handbook into two sections. In the first section, Paul presents what he considers to be the 12 guiding musical principles of Smooth Jazz for guitarists. In the second section, Paul steps you through six soloing studies, which put all of those principles to work, in a musical context, over a variety of rhythm tracks (top notch tracks!)

Paul demonstrates all of the musical examples and then breaks them down in detail. All of the soloing studies are tabbed out and notated, plus you’ll get Guitar Pro files as well (Windows & Mac compatible). You’ll also get all of the rhythm tracks to work with on your own.

No tedious theory or boring exercises to struggle through — you’ll play your way through Paul Brown’s Smooth Jazz Handbook and have a blast doing it.